IN THE HOUSE

Government business

Members will give a final day of second reading to the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act (C-42) before the question is called to send the bill to committee for further review.

Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code and to make a related amendment and a consequential amendment to other Acts

Short Title: Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act

C-42 would amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code in order to provide a grace period for delays in license renewals, streamline the licensing process, strengthen provisions relating to orders prohibiting possession for those convicted of domestic violence, provide the government final say on classification of firearms decisions and others. Further details of amendments in the bill summary.

Status: introduced on October 7, 2014. Debated at second reading on November 26, 2014 and April 1, 2015.

Note: A time allocation motion to limit debate at second reading to no more than 2 further sitting days was passed on April 1, 2015.

Private members’ business

Before the House adjourns for the break, members will give a first hour of debate to CPC MP Jim Hillyer’s bill to make violating parole a criminal offence.

Bill C-644, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (failure to comply with a condition)

Bill summary states that the C-644 would amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act “to create a new offence for the breach of conditions of conditional release and to require the reporting of those breaches to the appropriate authorities.”

IN COMMITTEE

House committees

DND officials are slated to meet with members of the of the veterans affairs committee to discuss the continuum of transition services.

Foreign affairs minister Rob Nicholson, international cooperation minister Christian Paradis and minister of state (foreign affairs and consular) Lynne Yelich are scheduled to appear at the foreign affairs committee where they will field questions on the department’s main estimates for 2015-16.

Senate committees

Officials from the Government of Nunavut will provide testimony at the energy, environment and natural resources committee with respect to the study on non-renewable and renewable energy development in Canada’s northern territories. Nunavut Housing Corporation executives will also appear.

Clause by clause consideration of the Red Tape Reduction Act (C-21) is scheduled at the national finance committee.

Senator Pierrette Ringuette’s proposal to “limit the fees that the participants in a designated payment card network require from merchants who accept payments by credit card” in Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Payment Card Networks Act (credit card acceptance fees) will undergo clause by clause scrutiny at the banking, trade and commerce committee.

Senators at the legal and constitutional affairs committee plan to undertake clause by clause review of the Victims Bill of Rights Act (C-32).

Testimony is expected from the John Howard Society of Canada, officials from ESDC, and Canada’s ombudsman for victims of crime at the social affairs, science and technology committee with respect to Bill C-591, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act (pension and benefits).

Officials from multiple departments will be joined by legal and academic experts (Kent Roach, Craig Forcese, Christian Leuprecht) at the national security and defence committee for an extended session to review the government’s anti-terrorism bill (C-51).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Vote results

DEFEATED – motion M-533 regarding citizen consultation prior to natural resource development was voted down by a vote of 140 to 121.

DEFEATED – Bill C-628, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and the National Energy Board Act (oil transportation and pipeline certificate) was voted down by a vote of 141 to 120.

PASSED – motion to concur in the tenth report of the standing committee on Canadian heritage requesting an extension of time (30 extra days) to consider Bill C-597, An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance Day) was adopted by a vote of 139 to 122.

DEFEATED –Bill C-613, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and the Access to Information Act (transparency) was voted down by a vote of 139 to 122.

Committee reports

The transport committee has reported Bill C-627, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act (safety of persons and property) back to the House with one amendment. The bill now awaits report stage consideration.

The justice committee has reported Bill C-587, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility) back to the House without amendment. The bill now awaits report stage consideration.

IN THE DAYS AHEAD

The House is poised to adjourn for two weeks and will resume sitting on Monday, April 20.

Please note that information contained in this publication is subject to daily change based on events in Parliament, including government business, private members’ business and committee business.